Working Meeting on Civil Control over Armed Forces

On April 22, 2010, RA NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs organized a working meeting on civil control over armed forces. Members of Parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, RA Republican Military Commissariat, RA Military Prosecutor’s office, international organizations, NGOs and journalists took part in the meeting.

The goal of the meeting was to present the results of the call-up monitoring which was held in Armenia in 2009 by three NGOs – Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Soldier’s Mother and Proactive Society with the support of OSCE Yerevan office.

Each organization presented their findings, the shortcomings of the call-up process and presented their recommendations directed towards the solution of all the revealed problems.
They presented the main problems which were related to the rights of getting court defence, health protection and education, to violation of citizens’ right during medical examination, the low level of awareness among recruits on their own rights, etc.

The representatives of the three NGOs  presented their recommendations, in particular, Artur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, suggested paying special attention at teaching the students the rights and obligations of recruits at schools, carrying out all types of medical examination regardless of complaints by the recruits, increasing the role of civilian doctors in the military medical commissions, increasing the call-up transparency, providing the recruits with the conclusions of medical examinations, so that they are able to appeal the conclusion if they do not agree with it, providing more financial means for the recruits coming from remote settlements which will include transportation, food and accommodation costs, as well as he recommended to form the institute of civil control over the call-up process and increase the oversight of the health conditions of those under 16 years old.    

The head of “Soldier’s Mother” NGO, Greta Mirzoyan, and the representatives of the organization, Anahit Hovnanyan, suggested making regulatory changes and create legal grounds for the medical commissions to consider a recruit’s alternative justified medical conclusion, working out a clear system of calling to administrative responsibly to those doctors who failed to work properly, as well as made recommendations related to awareness raising among recruits and their families.     

Anna Margaryan, the head of the NGO “Proactive Society” suggested providing recruits with a flyer on the grounds of getting deferment, release from military service or service in nearby settlements along with the notification paper, as well as she recommended to develop proactive mechanisms of information exchange and organize awareness raising events. The organization also presented the results of the research they made on contract military service.  

The deputy head of RA Military Commissariat, Mr. Gagik Harutyunyan, pointed out that they will consider all the abovementioned problems. He assured that the shortcomings will be reduced with relevant legislative changes, clarifications of functions and with oversight, and added that a number of recommendations had already been taken into consideration through the changes in the laws “On Military Service” and “On Local Self Governmental Bodies.” He thinks that with the aim of awareness raising on call-up relevant legislative requirements should be included in the school curriculum.

He also informed that the reform plan of the Ministry of Defence had already been confirmed, the functions related to call-up, the order and mechanisms of registration and medical examination had been clarified.